FOOTBALL SET TO RESUME IN MARCH

MBABANE – It is now a foregone conclusion. 

High-ranking trusted sources have confided that the Cabinet has approved the new proposal from local football authorities for football in the premier division to resume after next week Friday when the four-week partial lockdown in the country comes to an end.

This will finally put an end to the weeks of uncertainty on when football would resume after government imposed ban on all football activities including gatherings, following the sudden surge in COVID-19 positive cases and deaths. 

speculation

There has been a speculation on when local football at the highest level would get the green light from the country’s authorities to resume action.  

It has now emerged that the Cabinet was impressed with the latest proposal from football authorities motivating football resumption as it showed a lot of positive adjustments particularly, on the issue of testing for all the clubs. 

This was an element that was glaringly lacking when premier league games were initially allowed to resume before the second wave of the virus that forced government to put all football activities on hold again.  

The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) recently announced a COVID-19 Committee headed by Manzini Wanderers’ Board of Governors’ member Sandile ‘Chief’ Dlamini, whose aim is ensuring that all health protocols are followed when games resume. This includes testing of players regularly and the organisation has also appointed a committee of compliance officers to oversee this process. 

readiness

“The revised football resumption proposal submitted by the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs on behalf of the EFA got the nod from Cabinet as it was properly presented and displayed readiness from football authorities in as far as testing of players was concerned. This is the reason Cabinet has in principle approved football resumption when the partial lockdown ends next week Friday. The acting Prime Minister (Themba Masuku) will communicate this decision in his next nation address,” our trusted sources at Cabinet revealed.

It has also been established that the PLE along with the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) are already involved in preparations for the testing of all clubs who expected to commence before the end of next week. 

Apparently, the two principal football bodies will get assistance from government through the ministry of health in overseeing the testing of the players. 

Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Media Officer Sibongiseni Zondi maintained that the position has not changed regarding football resumption. “Until we are advised otherwise by the relevant authorities on football resumption, the position remains that football activities are suspended in the country,” Zondi said briefly. 

Update

EFA’s Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe was also contacted for comment, but stated that nothing has been communicated to him by his superiors. “I would not want to commit myself on what you are asking me about (football resumption) until I have consulted with my superiors. I will be able to give proper update as soon as I get such information,” Radebe said. 

There have been calls from football people, from players, supporters and officials for government to lift ban on football. It would now appear like the country’s authorities have heeded the calls as games are now expected to resume before the end of this month. It had also been gathered that non-contact sporting codes like cycling, athletics, golf, shooting, swimming, darts and pool will also be given the permission to resume action. 

EFA’s Chief Executive Officer Frederick Mngomezulu had previously promised to convene a press conference to provide direction on football resumption and it is now expected that this will happen next week Friday after the acting PM’s national address.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: